Open end ratcheting wrench

ABSTRACT

An open end ratcheting wrench having a breakaway handle and a rigid jaw secured thereto, the rigid jaw having two outwardly extended curved lugs and a recess to slidably receive a movable jaw. The movable jaw, which is slidably positioned in the recess of the rigid jaw, has an outwardly extending curved lug. A spring means positioned between the movable jaw and the rigid jaw urges the jaws together. The three lugs grip a fastening means to permit turning thereof and a reverse turning movement causes ratcheting.

United States Patent Herman A. Myers lnventor Lake Lynn, Pa. Appl. No. 20,354 Filed Mar. 17, 1970 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Assignee lnsta-Snap, 1nc.

Monongahela, Pa.

OPEN END RATCHETING WRENCH 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

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Int. Cl

Field of Search [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,886,998 5/1959 Scott 81/177.9 3,306,142 2/1967 Buteau 81/179 3,198,041 8/1965 Davis 81/179 X Primary ExaminerJames L. Jones, Jr. Attorneywebb, Burden, Robinson & Webb ABSTRACT: An open end ratcheting wrench having a breakaway handle and a rigid jaw secured thereto, the rigid jaw having two outwardly extended curved lugs and a recess to slidably receive a movable jaw. The movable jaw, which is slidably positioned in the recess of the rigid jaw, has an outwardly extending curved lug. A spring means positioned between the movable jaw and the rigid jaw urges the jaws together. The three lugs grip a fastening means to permit tuming thereof and a reverse turning movement causes ratcheting.

llll -'lllll PATENTED [m1 man INVE/VT'OR HERMAN A. MYERS MM m/1&4

FIG 2 Attorneys OPEN END RATCHETING WRENCH This invention relates to an open end ratcheting wrench and, more particularly, to an 'open end ratcheting wrench making three point contact with a fastening means to be gripped.

There are a number of presently known ratchet-type wrenches which, through the combination of sockets, ratcheting mechanisms and a multitude of connectable shafts and rods, permits the tool user to operate within relatively confined quarters for purposes of tightening or loosening various forms of fastening means. Further, a normal end wrench often distorts the fastening means, e.g., brass fittings are easily flattened by an end wrench contacting two surfaces.

My invention simplifies this confinement predicament which a tool user is often confronted with by the elimination of the socket, the standard ratcheting mechanism and the multitude of shafts and rods which when used in combination, permits one to operate around corners, etc. Further, my invention eliminates distortion of the fastening means by contacting three surfaces rather than two, thereby better distributing the pressures. These advantages are accomplished with my wrench which is simple of design and economical to manufacture.

My invention is an open end ratcheting wrench having a breakaway handle. The gripping portion of the wrench comprises three lugs which contact the fastening means. Two of the lugs extend outwardly from a rigid jaw and the third lug extends outwardly from a movable jaw slidably cooperating with the rigid jaw. A spring means positioned between the jaws causes ratcheting when the wrench is turned in a reverse direction.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown one preferred embodiment of my invention in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of my wrench;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the breakaway handle in three different positions;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the movable jaw; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the rigid jaw.

My wrench, generally designated 10, is comprised of three basic components namely, a handle 11, a rigid jaw 12 and a movablejaw 13.

The rigid jaw 12 has two spaced lugs 15 and 16 extending outwardly from n'gid jaw 12. These lugs are curved and form two of the three contacts with the fastening means, as will be discussed in detail subsequently. The rigid jaw 12 has two recesses 17 and 18 positioned in the faces of the rigid jaw 12 and positioned opposite each other being separated by web 19, see FIG. 4. The rigid member 12 connects to the handle 11 through an extended terminal portion 20 having a passageway 21 therethrough.

The movable jaw 13 terminates at one end in an upwardly extending curved lug 25. This curved lug 25 in combination with lugs 15 and 16 or rigid jaw 12 form the contact for a fastening means, for example, these lugs would contact three surfaces of a hex head coupling. The movable jaw 13 also has a flange section 26 which has a recessed channel 27 therein, see FIGS. 1 and 3. Section 26 slidably cooperates with recesses 17 and 18 as recessed channel 27 slides upon web 19.

A spring 30 is connected at one end within chamber 31 which depends inwardly into movable jaw 13 and at the other end within chamber 32 which depends inwardly into rigid jaw 12. The spring 30 acts to urge the rigid jaw 12 and movable jaw 13 together in completely closed relationship.

The handle 11 is of the breakaway type in its securement to rigid jaw 12; although if this breakaway feature of the wrench is not desired, the rigid jaw and handle could be one continuous member. The handle 11 terminates in two spaced extensions 35 and 36 which are positioned on either side of terminal portion 20 of rigid jaw 12. Extensions 35 and 36 have toward and contact the sides of terminal flat surface 22.

A detent assembly is employed to give handle 11 to its breakaway characteristics. A chamber 40 extends inwardly into handle 11 and is positioned in the surface adjacent terminal portion 20 of rigid jaw 12, see FIG. 1. A detent spring 41 is positioned in the chamber between the bottom of the chamber and a detent ball 42 positioned in the top of the chamber but in constant contact with the terminal portion 20 of rigidjaw 12.

The operation of my open end ratcheting wrench is as follows. The lugs 15, 16 and 25 are placed in contact with the flat surfaces of a hex-shaped fastening means. Three of the surfaces of the fastening means are in contact with the lugs. As the wrench is turned in a forward direction, the fastening means is securely held within the lugs and is thus turned. When the direction of turn is reversed, the single lug 25 slips over the hex portion of the fastening means through the action of spring 30, thereby causing ratcheting. The breakaway handle 11 can be moved into any ofits locking positions by merely turning the handle 11 so that the detent ball 42 contacts either the flat surface 22 or one of the inclined surfaces 23 or 24 depending upon the desired position of the wrench. Further, the handle 11 can be broken away to to permit the easy removal of the fastening means, once loosened. If it is desired to turn the fastening means in an opposite direction, the wrench is merely turned over and the fastening means are engaged by the lugs, permitting the ratcheting in the opposite direction.

1 have hereby provided a novel open-ended ratchet wrench having a breakaway handle to permit a speedy and nonslip means of turning particular fastening means found in difficult to reach locations.

.lclaim:

1. An open end ratcheting wrench comprising:

A. a handle;

B. a rigid jaw secured to the handle by securing means, said rigid jaw having two spaced and outwardly extended curved lugs and a pair of similar recesses positioned opposite one another and separated by a web;

C. a movable jaw having a channeled flange section positioned in sliding cooperation about said web and in said recesses and an outwardly extended curved lug; and,

D. spring means positioned between the movable jaw and the rigid jaw to urge said jaws together;

wherein said lugs form a three point contact about a fastening means, said lugs being positioned so that a forward movement of the handle turns the fastening means and a rearward move ment of the handle forces said jaw apart in opposition to the urging of the spring means causing ratcheting.

2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the rigid jaw has a flange which is positioned between two extended sections of the bandle and a connecting pin passes through aligned holes in the flange and the extended sections to secure the handle to the rigid jaw.

3. The wrench of claim 2 wherein the rigid jaw flange terminates in a flat surface and two inclined surfaces on opposite sides of the flat surface and which terminates at the flat surface.

4. The wrench of claim 3 wherein the handle is of the breakaway type and has a detent means located in the handle to cooperate with said surfaces of the rigid jaw flange.

5. The wrench of claim 4 wherein the detent means includes a detent spring positioned in a chamber in the handle and a detent ball being urged out of the chamber by the detent spring into contact with said surfaces. 

1. An open end ratcheting wrench comprising: A. a handle; B. a rigid jaw secured to the handle by securing means, said rigid jaw having two spaced and outwardly extended curved lugs and a pair of similar recesses positioned opposite one another and separated by a web; C. a movable jaw having a channeled flange section positioned in sliding cooperation about said web and in said recesses and an outwardly extended curved lug; and, , D. spring means positioned between the movable jaw and the rigid jaw to urge said jaws together; wherein said lugs form a three point contact about a fastening means, said lugs being positioned so that a forward movement of the handle turns the fastening means and a rearward movement of the handle forces said jaw apart in opposition to the urging of the spring means causing ratcheting.
 2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the rigid jaw has a flange which is positioned between two extended sections of the handle and a connecting pin passes through aligned holes in the flange and the extended sections to secure the handle to the rigid jaw.
 3. The wrench of claim 2 wherein the rigid jaw flange terminates in a flat surface and two inclined surfaces on opposite Sides of the flat surface and which terminates at the flat surface.
 4. The wrench of claim 3 wherein the handle is of the breakaway type and has a detent means located in the handle to cooperate with said surfaces of the rigid jaw flange.
 5. The wrench of claim 4 wherein the detent means includes a detent spring positioned in a chamber in the handle and a detent ball being urged out of the chamber by the detent spring into contact with said surfaces. 